A Look at the Investitures in the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Bourbon—Two Sicilies in New York City

Knights and Dames of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George
Photos courtesy of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George

We declare and promise to Almighty God, to Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, the maternal protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the powerful intercession of St. George the Martyr, to observe as true Soldiers of Christ all that we are asked and recommended. ~ Postulants for investiture in the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George

The Labarum

On Sunday, April 23rd, the Solemnity of St. George the Martyr, Mass and the Rite of Investiture of new Knights and Dames admitted into the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George (SMOCSG) was celebrated at St. Vincent Ferrer Church in New York City. Most Rev. Gr. Cr. Arthur J. Serratelli, STD, SSL, DD, GCGCO, First Subprior of the American Delegation, was the Principal Celebrant and Homilist. Rev. Uff. Edmund A. Luciano III, KGCO, KCHS, Second Subprior of the American Delegation, was the Concelebrant.

Following Mass, new and promoted Knights of the Royal Order of Francis I (ROFI) were invested at a ceremony presided by our esteemed Delegate, Gr. Uff. John M. Viola at the nearby Columbus Citizens Foundation.

The new and promoted Knights and Dames were admitted by command of His Royal Highness, Prince Carlo Maria Bernardo Gennaro of Bourbon of the Two Sicilies, by the Grace of God and Hereditary Right, Duke of Castro, Head of the Royal House of Bourbon—Two Sicilies, Grand Master of the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House. IHSV

The crucifer and standard bearer led the entrance procession

Baron Thibault de Saint Vincent and Baroness Heidi de Saint Vincent 

Postulants for the Constantiniam Militia are seated near the bye-altar

Most Rev. Gr. Cr. Arthur J. Serratelli blessed the postulants

Congratulations Dame Marianna Gatto

Congratulations Dame Alexis Carra-Tracey and Cav. Vito Totino

Congratulations Dame Suzanne Pearson

Congratulations Cav. Rev. Leo Joseph Camurati, O.P.

Newly invested Knights and Dames are seated in choir for Mass

Mass was celebrated by Most Rev. Gr. Cr. Arthur J. Serratelli

Gr. Uff. John M. Viola at the nearby Columbus Citizens Foundation

(L) Miniature medals and rosettes were awarded to the postulants.
(R) Sash and breast star of the Royal Order of Francis I

Congratulations Cav. Max Bornstein

Congratulations Cav. Vincent Gangone

Congratulations Cav. John Napoli

Congratulations Cav. Theodore Jacobsen

Cav. Jacobsen was promoted to Knight
Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Francis I

(L) Cav. Napoli and Cav. Gangone with Delegate Gr. Uff. John M. Viola.
(R) Ecclesiastical Knight of Grace Rev. Leo Joseph Camurati, O.P.

Cav. Vito Totino and Erin

The Gangone men with Rev. Canon Matthew Talarico and Fr. Ernest Rush

Dame Suzanne Pearson with Cav. John Napoli

Cav. Charles Sant'Elia with Cav. Jude Tiscornia and Catherine

(L) Miniature medals of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George & Royal Order of Francis I. (R) Tie with emblems of the Royal Order of Francis I

Rosette and miniature medal of the Royal Order of Francis I

New Book — The Outcast: A Novel

Forthcoming title that may be of interest to our readers. Available at Amazon.com

• The Outcast: A Novel by Luigi Pirandello

Publisher: Rutgers University Press

Publication Date: August 11, 2023

Hardcover: $69.95

Paperback: $27.95

Language: English

Pages: 314

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Congratulations Folgore Castelvetrano and FC Motta for Winning Promotion to the Sicilian Eccellenza!

Source: Sicilian Football @SicilianCalcio

Servant of God Empress Zita Symposium in Hulbert, Oklahoma

Learn more about the life of Servant of God Empress Zita of Bourbon Parma, along with the Tridentine Brewing clan, at Clear Creek Abbey on May 13th! You’ll also meet Habsburg royalty and Charles Coulombe is speaking too. Get your tickets! empresszitacause.com

Congratulations to the New Knights and Dames of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George

Photo courtesy of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George

We congratulate the new Knights and Dames of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George, invested at St. Vincent Ferrer Church in New York City on Sunday, April 23rd, the Feast of St. George, by our Delegation’s First Sub-Prior, Most Rev. Gr. Cr. Arthur J. Serratelli, S.T.D:

Knight and Dame of Justice 

Baron Thibault de Saint Vincent

Baroness Heidi de Saint Vincent 

Ecclesiastical Knight of Grace

Rev. Leo Joseph Camurati, O.P.

Knights of Merit

Leonardo Ferrisi 

Michael Sardano

Mark Solazzo

Vito Totino

Dame of Merit 

Suzanne Pearson

Knights of Office

Anthony DiSandro 

Ryan Haynie

Dames of Office 

Dr. Cara Aghajanian

Maryann Bonassi

Avv. Alexis Carra-Tracey 

Marianna Gatto  

Kerry Ann Gilmour

Patricia Howard 

Rita Huryk

Margaret Matcovich

Avv. Stephanie Rozalski Gaven 

Sarah Jane Starcher Germani

Anna Carabetta

IHSV

Congratulations to the New and Promoted Knights of the Royal Order of Francis I

Photo courtesy of the Royal Order of Francis I

We congratulate the new Knights of the Royal Order of Francis I, invested at the Columbus Citizens Foundation in New York City on Sunday, April 23rd, the Feast of St. George, by our esteemed Delegate, Gr. Uff. John M. Viola:

Knight of the Royal Order of Francis I

Max Bornstein

Vincent Gangone

John Napoli

Promotion

Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Francis I

Theodore Jacobsen

Photo of the Week: La Sala dei Cavalieri in Ravello

Sala dei Cavalieri or Knight's Hall at Villa Rufolo in Ravello
Photo by New York Scugnizzo

New Book: Documenting the Past in Medieval Puglia, 1130-1266

Forthcoming title that may be of interest to our readers. Available at Amazon.com

• Documenting the Past in Medieval Puglia, 1130-1266 by Paul Oldfield

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Publication Date: May 2, 2023

Hardcover: $90.00

Language: English

Pages: 240

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Ponderable Quote — ‘The Roaring Lion: Father Leo Rizzo, a Calabrian Priest in the American Civil War’ by Peter L. Belmonte

The late 19th century was an era of mass migration from Southern Italy to the United States. Father Leo was indeed, a pioneer of that exodus, leading the way by more than twenty years. The newcomers were mostly poor laborers, and they often faced struggles in their new country. Father Leo exhibited his concern for Italian immigrants as well as his opinion of the newly united Italy in the wake of violent crime. On June 22, 1887, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Philip Palladoni, a twenty-four year-old immigrant from Southern Italy, killed his brother Francesco during an argument over twenty-nine dollars Philip had loaned Francesco for his passage to the United States. Palladoni was arrested and tried for the crime. During the trial, Palladoni “displayed a most revengeful spirit and his language was something shocking.” Even after his death sentence in September 1887, Palladoni’s behavior remained defiant and his language “ribald.” Father Leo ministered to the condemned man, and this resulted in “a small degree of improvement” in his demeanor and speech. As soon as the death watch was placed upon the prisoner, Father Leo celebrated mass “for the repose of the condemned’s soul [sic].” According to one report, “under the priest’s care, Palladoni became trifle more subdued, although at times when Father Leo was not present, he still indulged in much profanity and foul language.”

Father Leo spent most daylight hours with Palladoni in the days leading up to his execution. His attendance had a calming effect on Palladoni. On October 4, 1888, the day before his date with the gallows, Palladoni met with Father Leo as usual. After Leo left Palladoni's cell at about 9 o'clock at night, Palladoni retired. Awakening a little past midnight, Palladoni called for Father Leo who came to him and escorted the prisoner to the chapel where they prayed the rosary for an hour. Palladoni again went to bed, and at 5:22 a.m. Father Leo entered Palladoni's cell to wake him up. Father Leo had a "passive and generous countenance." Attired in his "long, severely plain cassock, drawn in the waist with a white cord, [Father Leo] made a striking contrast with the group.” Palladoni got dressed, and Father Leo asked him how he felt. Palladoni replied that he felt well, and the two men went to the chapel where Father Leo administered the last rites with "due impressiveness." After joining in devotions with Father Leo, Palladoni returned to his cell where the sheriff read the death warrant to him; Father Leo interpreted it "slowly and clearly" for Palladoni.

After this Father Leo gave vent to his feelings in an address to the crowd of reporters, saying:

You of the press should advocate that there be no capital punishment. This should be the last one, and I hope to God it will be. May the laws of Connecticut be sealed with this Italian’s blood. If Victor Emmanuel [King of Italy] had never invaded Italy [in order to unify it] that nation would be a happy and prosperous one to-day and her sons would not have been driven to this strange land. Italy is a ruined country. Oh, you do not understand what it is. There are two Italians in the cell next to Palladoni for fighting. They tell a sad story of Italy. The death of Palladoni may serve as a warning to the Italians not to use knives or pistols. I hope it will.

The statement, as reported, should not be interpreted as primarily a disparagement of the United States or its treatment of immigrants. Rather it is more an indictment of the unification of Italy and the resultant political, economic, and social forces that sent Father Leo’s countrymen far-off lands in order to survive. Father Leo was not alone in this assessment of the Italian government’s culpability in the plight of her emigrants.

* The Roaring Lion: Father Leo Rizzo, a Calabrian Priest in the American Civil War, Peter L. Belmonte, independently published, 2020, pp.114-116

Thank You St. Josaphat Latin Mass Schola for Sharing Your Gift of Music With Us

We offer our sincerest thanks to the St. Josaphat Latin Mass Schola and Fr. Stephen Saffron for the beautiful music you've given our church. God bless you all.

Meridiunalata XXXVII: Nino Martoglio

Portrait of Nino Martoglio
by Antonio Gandolfo

Nino Martoglio, was born in Belpasso in the province of Catania in 1870. He was a journalist, poet and humorist and comedy writer. Active in the Sicilian theater, he launched actors such as Angelo Musco. At the age of 19 he launched a humorous and satirical weekly in the Sicilian language, called D'Artagnan, where he published his poems which were then subsequently collected in his famous volume Centona (meaning the cacophony of hundreds of voices), which were praised by critics and fans such as the poet Giosuè Carducci for their verismo and playful depiction of the island’s culture. Martoglio published the journal from 1889 through 1904 during the turbulent years of the new Italy. Martoglio was highly celebrated in his native province of Catania.

In 1901, inspired by the performances of Giuseppe Rizzotto, Martoglio dedicated himself to the theater and by 1903 he debuted his Compagnia Drammatica Siciliana directed by himself in the Teatro Manzoni in Milan. His work quickly gained a wide recognition after the successes of San Giuvanni Decullatu (1908), L’Aria del Continente (1910) and he collaborated with Luigi Pirandello composing ‘A Vilanza (1917) and Cappiddazzu Paga Tutto (1917). Unique for the time and even for today, Martoglio succeeded in bringing Sicilian theater to national audiences decades before radio and television. Martoglio is also remembered for his first phonograph album of 14 dialogues in sonnet form ‘O Scuru o’ Scuru (1895), inspired by the genre created by Nino Pappalardo in the late 19th century through works such as his Siciliana.

Taking on many themes of the early 20th century, he also engaged in new modern mediums such as recording recitals and poetry on phonograph records and directing films such as his 1913 Sperduti nel Buio, considered a landmark in early Italian cinema. Martoglio tragically died in 1921 after falling down an elevator shaft in the Catania hospital where his son was recovering from an illness.

Critics have likened Martoglio’s language to a fine classical blend of authentic daily local language brought to express broader universal literary themes, as was done by the Neapolitan poet Salvatore Di Giacomo, considered to be his poetic model.

Essential Bibliography

Nino Martoglio, Centona: Raccolta Completa di Poesie Siciliane con prefazione di Luigi Pirandello, Catania, Cav. Niccolò Giannotta Editore, 1948 (reprint by Editrice Giannotta, 1986)

Antonio Scuderi, The Dialect Poetry of Nino Martoglio: Sociolinguistic Issues in a Literary Context, New York, Peter Lang Publishing Gmbh, 1992

Mamma
Nino Martoglio

Mamma, mammuzza, si nun avissi a tia,
jiu ‘ntra stu munnu, mi sintissi persu;
ti vogghiu beni chiù di l’universu,
chiù di la vista e chiù di l’arma mia!
Si lu me sensu ancora nun s’ha persu,
lu vidi mamma, è pirchì pensu a tia
a tia chi si la megghiu poesia
e di la poesia lu megghiu versu!
Oggi ricurri ancora la tò festa
ed jiu , chi nun mi scordu la jurnata,
t’offru l’umili miu solitu cantu.
Tu dunami la solita vasata,
e po’ fammi durmiri ccu la testa
supra lu pettu tò amurusu e santu.

Mamma
By Nino Martoglio

Mamma, dear mamma, if I didn’t have you,
I in this world would feel lost;
I love you more than the universe,
More than sight and more than my soul!
If I haven’t lost my senses yet,
You see mamma, it is because I think of you
Of you who are the best poem
And of the poem you are the best verse!
Today is your feast day
And I, who do not forget the day,
Offer to you my usual humble song.
Give me your usual kisses,
And then let me sleep with my head
Upon your loving and saintly chest.

La ‘Atta e La Fimmina
Nino Martoglio

Ju sugnu la 'atta
chi allicca e po' 'ratta
chi ridi e ti 'ncugna
e poi azzicca l'ugna.
Tu si' lu surcittu,
scantùsu e affrittu.
Pri spassu, pri pocu,
ti fazzu lu jocu;
ma quannu su' stanca
po' stennu la vranca,
t'afferru, t'aggranciu
ti sfardu, ti manciu!
Ju sugnu la 'atta
chi allicca e po' ratta
chi ridi e ti 'ncugna
e poi azzicca l'ugna.
La fimmina sugnu,
chi amuri ti dugnu,
la donna, chi duna
di spini la cruna.
Tu si' l'omu amanti,
sinceru e custanti
Ti stennu li trizzi,
ti fazzu carizzi...;
ma fatti li cunti
po' sciunnu li punti,
ti chiudu li porti,
ti dugnu la morti.
La fimmina sugnu
chi amuri ti dugnu,
la donna chi duna
di spini la cruna.

The Cat and the Woman
Nino Martoglio

I am the cat
that licks then scratches
that smiles and approaches you
and then sticks the claw in.
You are the mouse,
fearful and afflicted.
For sport, for so little,
I make you the game;
but when I’m tired
I extend the paw,
grab you, snatch you,
wreck you, eat you!
I am the cat
who licks then scratches
who smiles and approaches you
and then sticks the claw in.
I am the woman,
who gives you love,
the mistress, who gives
of thorns the crown.
You are the loving man,
sincere and constant
I extend my tresses to you,
I caress you...;
but accounts settled
I then undo things,
I close the door to you,
I give you death.
I am the woman
who gives you love,
the mistress who gives
of thorns the crown.

L’Omu Secunnu la Tiuria Darwiniana
Nino Martoglio

   – L' omu, cumpari, àvi un naturali
sempri di costroirisi da sè...
Ju haju un libru, dittu vigetali,
ca c'è 'na spiega di zoccu è ed è...

   La quale, ca c'è scrittu, tali e quali,
l'arvolo discinnenti di Nuè,
unni ca l'omu nasci di l'armali
e nni pruveni dallo Scimpanzè...

   Non artro, ca la signa è quattru manu,
mentre che il sceccu è dittu: quattru peri...,
d'unni nni vinni il suo congegnu umanu...

   Cunsistenti ('ddu libru sempri 'nsigna),
ca l'omu àvi du' manu ccu du' peri... ;
e quindi è menzu sceccu e menzu signa!

Man According to Darwinian Theory
Nino Martoglio

   – Man, cumpari, has a nature
To always construct himself by himself...
I have a book, called natural history,
Where there is an explanation of everything whatsoever...

   Which, for there it is written, just like so,
The tree descending from Noah,
Where man is born from the animals
and derives from the Chimpanzee...

   None other, for the monkey is four-handed,
While the donkey is called: four-footed...,
Whence comes its human device...

   It is consistent then (that there book further teaches),
That man has two hands and two feet... ;
And hence is half donkey and half monkey!

*Translation and biographical information by Cav. Charles Sant’Elia

A Look at the 2023 Festa Della Madonna Dell'Arco in Ridgewood, Queens

Every Sunday after Easter for the past eleven years, fujenti (devotees of the Madonna Dell'Arco), family and friends gather at the Peter Cardella Senior Citizen Center in Ridgewood, Queens, for the Festa Della Madonna Dell'Arco. Mass was celebrated in Italian with Father Barozzi, followed by a dinner dance inside the center's Senator Maltese Hall, where about 250 revelers enjoyed a sumptuous meal, fellowship, and lots of dancing between courses with DJ Pane e Cioccolato.